Minutes
Connecticut River Estuary Metropolitan Planning Organization
April 11, 2007
Attendance:
Chester: Tom Marsh
Clinton:
Deep River: Dick Smith
Essex: Phil Miller
Killingworth: Martin Klein
Lyme: Ralph Eno
Old Lyme:
Old Saybrook: Mike Pace
Westbrook: CRERPA: Bruce Edgerton
Conn DOT: Kathryn Faraci
ERT: Doris Sanstrom, Brad Beecher
CRERPA Staff: Jean Davies, Wini Olson
ESCI Paula Ferraro
Legislative Rep. Jamie Spallone, Jeff Nelson representing Gov. Jodi Rell,
John Holly, representing Rep. Joe Courtney
I. The meeting of the Estuary Metropolitan Planning
Organization was called to order by Chairman Mike Pace at 8:30AM in the conference space of the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency at 455
Boston Post Road, Old
Saybrook Ct 06475.
II. Public Comment Period
There was no public comment however; Jean Davies reported that
the Regional Transportation Plan has been circulated for review. The notice of the public hearing has been
published. It is important to have a quorum on May 9 to validate
the hearing and vote to accept the plan.
Chairman Pace referred to page 37 of the plan and asked about the significance of SLOSS. Jean explainedthat 1998-2000 data wasused for the high accident rate information. A non-disclosure statement has to be signed for all morenew information. The engineering requirements make it difficult for small towns to secure federal dollars.
Jean suggested that a corridor study Route 1 from Clinton to Old Saybrook would put many of the problems on paper and bring attention to the situation at the state and federal levels.
Chairman Pace cited the figures
on page 33. He noted that the most hazardous locations are
on state roads. Better coordination is needed.
Minutes
Bruce Edgerton moved that the
minutes of the March meeting be approved
as circulated. The motion was seconded by Phil Miller and
unanimously approved.
III. Federal and State Programs
A. Final Draft Regional Transportation Plan 2007-2035
Jean had already reported on the progress of the Plan as part of the Public Involvement
B. LOCHSTP update
Jean Davies reported that she and Brad Beecher attended the meeting of the New Haven Region. LOCHSTP is concerned with locally coordinated transit. The plans to coordinate ETD routes with Madison, New London, and Middletown ranked high on the list of priorities as did the intent to extend service to Saturday and Sunday.
Phil Miller asked about
north bound rail service.
Jean reported
that she and Janice Ehle-Meyer met recently with Bob
Bell of the Valley Railroad. He discouraged any plans to
locate bike paths on the existing right of way. The Valley
Rail road is interested in securing state and federal money.
C. STIP
Jean explained
that the STIP amendments are to carry programs forward into the next
fiscal year. Dick Smith moved
that the STIP amendments be endorsed. The motion was seconded by
Ralph Eno and
unanimously approved.
D. Agreement
Jean reminded members that they reviewed an agreement last month and agreed that it was totally convoluted.
Under the direction of Judy Gott, the New Haven MPO endorsed the concept of the study but withheld priorblanket endorsement of the conclusions.
Jean made
inquiries and learned that OPM will probably hire a consultant that will in turn ask the MPOs
for pertinent information. Jean reminded members how valuable it was to
be “at the table” for the I-95 discussions. It allowed Bill Peace to have
transit included in the program.
After discussion, Phil Miller moved to
support the application without prior endorsement of the findings. The motion was
seconded by Dick Smith and approved with Tom Marsh and Mike Pace. Mike asserted that other issues are more
important. Tom stated that he
wanted to demonstrate that although the MPO will support the application, it is
not unanimous or enthusiastic.
E. Town Project Review and Prioritization
Jean reviewed the matter of funding going from 80/20 to 80/10/10.
Martin Klein mentioned that Killingworth has received a grant to rebuild a bridge. Are they still eligible to apply for traffic light? Jean assured them that they are. The money is from a different program.
F. Municipal Grants
Brad Beecher
reported that the Dial-a Ride application will be submitted
tomorrow. He thanked the members for the letters of support.
Dick Smith moved that the MPO support the application. The motion was seconded by Phil Miller and unanimously approved.
G. 5310
Applications
have been received from both Caring Ways and ESCI.
Caring Ways is applying for a bus to carry 11 to 20 passengers.
SCSI was denied a bus last year due to having too few passengers. It is now applying for a van to be used by EMOTS.
Dick Smith asked why EMOTS is not part of the ETD. The ETD cannot leave the region. EMOTS transports patients to medical appointments in
New Haven, Middletown and New London.
Mike Pace noted that when the ECS was serving the ETD, EMOTS was simply a line in a larger item.
Paula Ferraro mentioned that she is glad that the ETD is handling the rest of the transportation.
Bruce Edgerton
moved to support both applications. The motion was seconded by Dick Smith and unanimously approved.
IV. New Business
There was no new business
V. Old Business
A. Transit Update
Brad Beecher reported that ridership is up another 20%.
Doris Sanstrom commented that the ETD is really becoming a transit hub.
B. Sustainable Transportation Access
The area is
maintaining a stable population but his vehicle miles
are increasing.
C. Safe Route to Schools Program
Chester applied for
this program last year. A School Accessibility Plan was
submitted. It did not qualify for consideration.
Old Saybrook has a sidewalk plan and is planning to submit it this year.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Wini Olson, Staff